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On the eve of the gathering of the France team which begins this Monday, November 14 to prepare for the World Cup in Qatar (November 20 to December 18), several French players played a last match with their respective club this weekend before to be able to join the national team. Overview of these final meetings and the state of form of the French internationals.
While the World Cup is on everyone’s mind, the last meetings of the European championships took place this weekend, before the clubs could release the internationals retained with their selections. For the 25 French players summoned by Didier Deschamps in his list of November 9this final meeting could initiate the World Cup for some and confirm their personal form for others.
In the minds of the players, the fear of injuring themselves just before the World Cup and joining the Blues infirmary, already full, necessarily took up space during this last day. With the withdrawals of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, the two major midfielders of the Deschamps era, but also of AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, the coach had to find solutions to complete his list and repopulate his midfield in particular. ground. While crossing his fingers so that his task does not become even more complicated in the event of a last minute injury to the French who were playing this weekend.
French internationals resting in Spain
The Spanish championship calendar suits Didier Deschamps well: the French from Real Madrid (Benzema, Camavinga and Tchouaméni) and FC Barcelona (Dembélé and Koundé) were able to rest this weekend, the two clubs not taking part in the first round of the King’s Cup. But not Antoine Griezmann, who played the entire match with Atlético Madrid against SD Almazán (2-0), Saturday November 12. Without being a scorer, the Mâconnais was at least able to continue and find rhythm before joining Clairefontaine.
Despite this respite, individual cases remain to be closely monitored by the medical staff of the France team. FC Barcelona defender Jules Koundé has been hit in the thigh since October 29. And on his side, the recent Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema missed five of Real Madrid’s last six games due to left thigh pain. ” The medical staff discussed together, there is no concern about his situation in relation to our deadlines. As the World Cup approaches, he is very vigilant “, wished to reassure Deschamps.
In Ligue 1, Mbappé finishes in style, Marseille narrowly wins
In the French championship, Kylian Mbappé’s Paris Saint-Germain perfectly mastered their meeting against Auxerre (5-0) this Sunday, November 13. Parisian coach Christophe Galtier has chosen not to let any of his executives rest and to field his usual attacking trio. A decision that must have pleased the French striker, author of his 12th goal in Ligue 1 and who can now turn to the World Cup in Qatar in the best possible conditions. His teammate Presnel Kimpembe, who had just returned from injury, only returned in the 75th minute to get back on his feet.
The evening was marked by the clash between AS Monaco of Youssouf Fofana and Olympique de Marseille of Mattéo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout. Led until the last minutes, the Phocaeans managed to equalize thanks to a goal from midfielder Jordan Veretout (83rd), before snatching victory on the wire after additional time (98th). The Marseillais showed character to win and take 4th place in the standings.
A double shock for the Blues in Serie A
No rest either for Olivier Giroud and Théo Hernandez, both aligned with AC Milan for the clash against Fiorentina. The two French have chained a fourth success at home with their club against the Tuscans undefeated for three days. In a neck-and-neck encounter where Hernandez wore the captain’s armband, the two teams neutralized each other throughout the match before AC Milan managed to take the lead at the very end of added time (92nd). . Olivier Giroud confirmed his great form at the moment by attempting a superb acrobatic recovery (72nd) which did not go far from the opposing cages.
Juventus Turin welcomed Lazio Rome to try to steal third place in the championship. Despite a first period where the Romans confiscated the ball from the Turin players, it was Juventus who opened the scoring following a good recovery from French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, perfectly launching Moise Kean towards the goal (43rd). Author of a solid match until the end of the meeting, the Frenchman contributed to the clear 3-0 victory of the Turinese.
In Germany, the French continue their momentum
In the Bundesliga, four Frenchmen started on Saturday November 12 alongside Bayern Munich (Kingsley Coman, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard and Dayot Upamecano) for their 2-0 success against Schalke 04, which stagnates at the bottom of the standings. They all delivered a good performance, in particular Lucas Hernandez, back after seven weeks of absence, who showed himself applied alongside the other two Blues of the Bavarian defense and reassured about his state of form before the World Cup. In attack, Coman was dangerous during his 79 minutes played during the game, but failed to score.
Between absence and victory in pain in the Premier League
Raphaël Varane, the boss of the French defense, was not present in the Manchester United group for their match won 2-1 against Fulham, this Sunday, November 13. Still too fair, the Frenchman probably wanted to continue his recovery and be careful before returning to the selection.
At the top of the standings, Arsenal recorded a new victory against Wolverhampton (2-0) and consolidated its position as leader of the English championship. French defender William Saliba, one of the revelations of the season with the London club, played the entire match and allowed Arsenal to maintain their status as the best defense in the Premier League (11 goals conceded in 13 matches) .
Hugo Lloris, the captain of the Blues and goalkeeper of Tottenham, had a more complicated match against Leeds by conceding three goals during the meeting, Saturday, November 12. He nevertheless emerged victorious from the match with his teammates, won in a snatch with the score of 4-3.